Etowah woman charged with arson at a church

Published: Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 10:32 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 10:32 p.m.

An Etowah woman was arrested Thursday and charged with felony arson after police said she was seen on video surveillance setting fire to a church.

At about 1 p.m., Henderson County sheriff's deputies responded to a vandalism call at 67 Etowah Center Drive at Life Spring Wesleyan Church in the Etowah Shopping Center in Etowah.

Upon arrival, deputies found that a cross attached to the front of the church with a cloth draped on the arms had been vandalized, the Sheriff's Office said in a news release. The left side of the cloth was burned, which charred the wooden cross, along with the brick structure and the vinyl eave of the church, the release says.

The fire was extinguished prior to the time of its discovery and no one was injured. Less than $500 dollars of damage was done to the church, according to the release.

Using video surveillance, deputies identified Rebecca Eaton, 58, of East Sugar Maple Drive in Etowah, as the arsonist, the release says. Officers arrested Eaton at her residence without incident and charged her with one count of felony arson, burn/religious church/building.

Eaton is being held in the Henderson County Detention Center under a $10,000 secured bond and will have a first appearance Friday morning.

The Henderson County Fire Marshal's Office also responded and provided assistance in the investigation.

<p>An Etowah woman was arrested Thursday and charged with felony arson after police said she was seen on video surveillance setting fire to a church. </p><p>At about 1 p.m., Henderson County sheriff's deputies responded to a vandalism call at 67 Etowah Center Drive at Life Spring Wesleyan Church in the Etowah Shopping Center in Etowah. </p><p>Upon arrival, deputies found that a cross attached to the front of the church with a cloth draped on the arms had been vandalized, the Sheriff's Office said in a news release. The left side of the cloth was burned, which charred the wooden cross, along with the brick structure and the vinyl eave of the church, the release says. </p><p>The fire was extinguished prior to the time of its discovery and no one was injured. Less than $500 dollars of damage was done to the church, according to the release. </p><p>Using video surveillance, deputies identified Rebecca Eaton, 58, of East Sugar Maple Drive in Etowah, as the arsonist, the release says. Officers arrested Eaton at her residence without incident and charged her with one count of felony arson, burn/religious church/building. </p><p>Eaton is being held in the Henderson County Detention Center under a $10,000 secured bond and will have a first appearance Friday morning.</p><p>The Henderson County Fire Marshal's Office also responded and provided assistance in the investigation.</p>